Breastfeeding could save lives

[Chemisse]

CHICAGO – The lives of nearly 900 babies would be saved each year, along with billions of dollars, if 90 percent of U.S. women breast-fed their babies for the first six months of life, a cost analysis says.

Those startling results, published online Monday in the journal Pediatrics, are only an estimate. But several experts who reviewed the analysis said the methods and conclusions seem sound.

"The health care system has got to be aware that breast-feeding makes a profound difference," said Dr. Ruth Lawrence, who heads the American Academy of Pediatrics' breast-feeding section.

The findings suggest that there are hundreds of deaths and many more costly illnesses each year from health problems that breast-feeding may help prevent. These include stomach viruses, ear infections, asthma, juvenile diabetes, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and even childhood leukemia.

The magnitude of health benefits linked to breast-feeding is vastly underappreciated, said lead author Dr. Melissa Bartick, an internist and instructor at Harvard Medical School. Breast-feeding is sometimes considered a lifestyle choice, but Bartick calls it a public health issue.



http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100405/ap_on_he_me/us_med_breast_feeding_savings

[HysteryDiagnosis]

1. Kicked and recommended.

http://www.jaoa.org/cgi/content/full/106/4/203


Human breast milk contains large quantities of secretory Ig A (sIgA). These antibodies, which have formed as a consequence of the mother's previous exposure to infectious agents, can bind to potential pathogens and prevent their attachment to the infant's cells. Secretory IgA is adapted to survive in the respiratory and gastrointestinal mucosal membranes and resist proteolytic digestion. Secretory IgA neutralizes infectious agents while at the same time limiting the damaging effects of tissue inflammation that can occur with other antibody types.

Human breast milk, and especially the early colostrum, contains measurable levels of leukocytes. Colostrum contains approximately 5x106 cells per mL, an amount that decreases tenfold in mature milk. Most of these leukocytes are macrophages and neutrophils, which phagocytose microbial pathogens. Lymphocytes, including T cells, natural killer cells, and antibody-producing B cells, make up 10% of the leukocytes in human breast milk. There is evidence to suggest that these cells survive passage through the infant's gastrointestinal system where they are absorbed and influence the infant's immune response.11 Much of this evidence comes from animal studies, however, which will be discussed later in the present review.

[glowing]

2. And in a society that doesn't allow for maternity leave, its nearly impossible.

I think its about time for a woman's revolution... One that includes pay, bennies, maternity/ paternity leave (with pay), and for politicians to stop throwing our health needs under a bus so they can pass a "health care bill".. How exactly is trading away health needs health care.. got me?

[fasttense]

3. You are so right about needing TIME to breast feed.

I had every intention of beast feeding both of my babies. After a 30 day leave period, I had to go back to work both times. My milk came in strong and full. I pumped milk and left it for the baby in the frig at night. Then I would pump during any break I got at work. Then I would go home and directly feed the baby. But slowly and gradually my milk dried up. No matter how hard I tried to keep pumping, I would get less and less milk. I might have gotten 3 months of breast feeding done before my milk was so reduced that I had to supplement with fake breast milk.

They can cheer the health benefits all they want but without the time to breast feed a baby, it is useless.

[Chemisse]

7. That is so true - breastfeeding mothers need support

Or it is really difficult after they go back to work. Pumping just doesn't seem to keep the supply going over the long run.

Ideally, women could have on-site day care and go to nurse their babies during breaks and lunch.

[druidity33]

4. breast milk production...

Apparently, unfiltered wheat beer (Hefeweisen, eg) helps to stimulate breast milk production. 1 with the evening meal seems to do well for it. I'm not advocating really DRINKING, just relating how my wife managed to step up production for expressing milk to store for her work shifts.

Also, it's good to know you're allowed to have a beer once in a while...

:)


K&R

[Crunchy Frog]

5. I wish I had been able to exclusively breastfeed for any lenth of time.

I just could never produce much, not enough even for one, let alone two. I did the best I could though, for the first six months, before my supply crashed completely, and hope they at least got some benefit.

[Chemisse]

6. They say every month of nursing helps

You should be very pleased to have nursed for 6 months - with twins!

They look so sweet!

[HuckleB]

8. Breastfeeding Is Good but Maybe Not THAT Good

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=4678

"An article entitled “The Burden of Suboptimal Breastfeeding in the United States: A Pediatric Cost Analysis,” by Bartick and Reinhold, was published in Pediatrics 2010 April 5. According to this news report, it showed that 900 babies’ lives and billions of dollars could be saved every year in the U.S. if we could get 90% of mothers to breastfeed for at least 6 months. It says breastfeeding has been shown to reduce the risk of stomach viruses, ear infections, asthma, juvenile diabetes, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and even childhood leukemia.

This new study did not provide any new evidence. It simply took risk ratios from a three year old government report, extrapolated, and estimated the costs.

...

This new study confirms what we already knew: that breastfeeding is better for a baby than bottle-feeding. The question is how much better, and this study really can’t answer that question. It consists of estimates based on estimates based on mixed data of varying quality. Considering the quality of the data and the pitfalls of epidemiological studies, it is likely that this new study overestimates the value of breastfeeding and the number of preventable deaths. If we could accurately calculate the numbers needed to treat (NNT) with breastfeeding to save one baby’s life or prevent one ear infection, they would be very high numbers. Mothers should be given those numbers; but they should also understand that if they bottle-feed, the odds are good that their child will thrive.

Breastfeeding is clearly better for babies, and I strongly support it, but I think the facts leave us room to support those women who make an informed choice not to breastfeed. Some women can’t produce enough milk or have health problems that interfere with breastfeeding. Some women know the benefits of breastfeeding but choose not to do it. We may not agree with their choice, but we can respect their autonomy. Thank goodness we now have safe, nutritious infant formulas that give us a choice."


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It looks like this "new study" is a whole bunch of propaganda.

[Name removed]

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